Do you Celebrate Halloween with Your Children?

I can honestly say that the Lord has dealt with me strongly on this topic over the past few years.  We didn't see it as a problem to dress up and get candy.  If we kept the evil out of it, it's okay, right?  Well, every family is different, this I know.

As a Christian family, we have explained that Halloween in general can be viewed as an evil day and shouldn't be celebrated in some cases, but we do alternatives.  I don't see anything wrong with dressing up in cute costumes and getting candy, just not door to door.  Instead, we do family-friendly costume and trick or treating events like at the library, etc.  Even churches have fun alternatives like "Trunk or Treat."  We also don't mind carving pumpkins, but lately we have been decorating them instead with markers, glitter, etc. Will my girls be dressing up and going out tonight?  No, we will be having a family pizza and movie night.  They are allowed to dress up in a costume that they already have in their dress up boxes.  We will do a candy hunt in the backyard etc.  There have been times that we handed out children Bible tracks with candy to the neighborhood kids as to be a light, but this year, we just want to sit in.  We will do that next year.

The last time we went out trick or treating at night was two years ago.  When scary and evil costumes appeared, my girls cried and said, "this isn't right, God doesn't like this night."  Talk about a humbling experience for me.  Now, I am not saying that because your family goes trick or treating this is wrong, every family has their own beliefs and that's awesome.  God deals with every Christian family differently on this topic and this just happens to be ours.

What do you and your family do?  Are you absolutely against Halloween or for it?  I look forward to hearing from all of you.

Many Blessings!

Image courtesy of [zirconicusso] / FreeDigitalPhotos.net

Unit Studies, Lapbooks, and Libraries, Oh My!

In my last post I know I was in the valley of homeschooling.  I said that I was on the verge of giving up and just felt completely lost at what to do.  I realized the problem was me.  The Lord has given me a revelation that I most definitely needed.

As a former teacher, I have been stuck in my ways with solid routines and lesson plans.  Boy, as a homeschooling family, this has been a tough thing to break.  Okay, I am one tough nut to crack when it comes to this stuff.  I am one to be super organized and have a plan set in place, and if it's broken, I go crazy.  So, you kind of can see what has happened to me with three girls at different stages of development.  Things weren't going the way I had "planned."  I guess you can say the whole thing kind of blew up in my face.  Hec, if I want my girls to have this, I should just send them to school right?  I mean, a part of homeschooling is having flexibility and learning how to roll with the punches.  Don't get me wrong, having some sort of routine and plans are good to have to keep your kids accountable, this is very important, but being willing to allow flexibility, well that is key!

I have researched hi and low and received endless encouragement from fellow homeschoolers and here is what I found will work for us: Unit Studies, Lapbooks, and frequent visits to the library! Oh yeah!  I am all for that!  This has been working awesome.  I will now just be using A Beka as a supplement two days a week.  Here is what I came up with for our new schedule:

Unit Study Mondays
A Beka Tuesdays
Homeschool Connections Wednesdays
Library and Lapbook Thursdays
A Beka Fridays

Next year, we will  be switching over to Heart of Dakota.  This was another revelation the Lord gave me thanks to a homeschooling acquaintance.  God is so good! My brain is clear and I see my girls starting to shine and be happy again.  Behavior issues can stem from curriculum not working.  Well, this I have discovered.  I am willing to make this work and not give up on my girls! I know there will be days where there will still be challenges, but I can do ALL things through Christ who strengthens me. Philippians 4:13

We are thrilled at the variety of Unit Studies and Lapbooks available!  The girls are excited about weekly visits to the library again.  Joy is returning! Praise the Lord!

Time to Revamp our Homeschool

Well, yet again it has been quite a while since I have posted here on my personal homeschooling blog.  It's hard keeping a balance sometimes and some days more than others.

I have hit a "home educators" wall so to speak.  This past week (on our family northern adventures trip) I had a mommy meltdown. I almost gave up on our homeschooling completely.  The enemy just kept whispering things to me that made me feel defeated like: "I'm failing my kids" or "I am better off sending them to school." 

It's all been an issue of behaviors due to age gaps of 9,6, and 3.  A Beka curriculum was perfect for us last year, but now with two out of three using the curriculum it's been quite hairy.  As a former early childhood teacher I thrive on schedules and lesson plans.  Yeah, this isn't working in our homeschool.  There is definite routines and plans in our homeschool, but I need to revamp and really pray and search out another alternative that will work for my girls.

In my situation it was suggested to try multi-age unit studies.  I have been searching high and low which method would work for us.  I just need a supernatural peace and strength to not give up.  I know that the Lord has called me into this so he will carry us through.  I have added a Biblical character training to the mix.  Behavior struggles have surfaced I believe because A Beka is not really working for us or them for that matter.  I guess I stuck with it because I am familiar with it.  I used it in the private school system.  Doesn't really seem to work for homeschooling, at least our homeschool anyway.

I personally need to learn how to let go of all of those rigid lesson plans as it's all I know being a former early childhood educator.  Have a plan yes, but being flexible, yeah that's a struggle.  I'm trusting that the Lord will bring me to a point that I can just relax.  This I do not know how to do.

Hopefully, I can post once a week like I originally intended.  This is a place for me to just really lay out my feelings and seek encouragement etc.

Many Blessings!

Lindsey Clair
Blessed to be a wife and mom

Images by www.mycutegraphics.com

Homeschooling Monday: Pajama Style

Yaaaawwwwn! Well, it's Monday and it was quite a weekend.  This past week, the girls started up with homeschool classes at Homeschool Connections in Farmington Hills and I think they caught a cold bug, ugh.  While I was in the nursery area with Bethany (3) there was a little guy in there that loved to touch everyone.  He even sneezed in Bethany's face, whoot!  Oh well, it happens and kids and germs do go hand in hand, thanks Lysol! LOL

Well in just a few days little Bethany also decides to sneeze on her sisters and it just went downhill from there.  Colds already, really?  All weekend they were miserable and today they are recovering in their pajamas on the floor in front of the TV.  Yeah, need to get them better ASAP we have a crazy full swing schedule ahead of us on top of homeschooling:

Tuesday evenings: Pioneer Girls
Wednesdays: Homeschool Connections classes and piano lessons
Thursdays: Gymnastics (Kelly)
Fridays: Dance (Lyssa and Bethany, ballet and tap)

We also have a church event this Friday evening and a wedding to attend on Saturday.  Praying and believing we all stay healthy.  Our homeschool lesson for today is: WASH YOUR HANDS and HIDE YOUR COUGHS and SNEEZES, always! Phewww!

Looking forward to returning to our normal homeschool schedule with happy and healthy girls!  Happy Monday everyone and stay healthy.  (Lots of Vitamin C and fluids.........)

Blessings!

Lindsey 
Blessed to be a wife and mom!

Image by: My Cute Graphics

Training Them Up

 

Now that we have finished up our second week of homeschooling for 2012, my gears have been spinning.  Why?  Well, now that I have an idea of what I am doing this year versus last year I would like to incorporate character training into the mix.

Homeschooling in itself is a challenge, this I have learned quite well, but it's also extra time to really train my children up in the way they should go. (Proverbs 22:6 Start children off on the way they should go, and even when they are old they will not turn from it.)

This verse has been ringing in my head and heart since beginning our homeschooling journey and I want to be obedient.  After all, they are only little once and we only get once chance as parents.  This really is a big deal.

In the mornings I make it a point to start our day off in prayer as this should be a no brainer as Christians right?  Yeah, I can honestly say that I have let a couple mornings accidentally slip due to adjustment periods. I know God knows my heart and that I am trying though.  I am sure you can relate.  I have been teaching the girls how to pray and hope to take turns with them in the days ahead.  We also include Bible reading and scripture memorization.  Kelly takes turns reading with me then we discuss it.  God is so awesome and I love that we have this opportunity. 

I want this to be routine and top priority in starting our day.  I also try to make it a point to pray for others.  I will be starting a prayer request chart for the girls to be able to write their requests down.  I have not made Bible a subject in our homeschooling curriculum.  I want it to be a natural thing that we do as unto the Lord, not because we want a good grade.  So I eliminated it from our subject line up.

Thank you Lord for this opportunity to train my children (your children) in the way they should go.  I know that I will be held accountable for everything I teach them.  Lead and guide me through your Word to be your loyal servant.  I want to please you Lord.

Many Blessings,

Lindsey Clair
Blessed to be a Wife and Mom

Flowers Stock Photos by bloggersclipart.com

Our Second Year of Homeschooling 2012

Well, we have officially started our new homeschool year, our second homeschool year to be exact.  We started Monday, August 27th.  The girls were so excited to start, it really blessed my heart.  So far, it has been running smoothly and wonderfully.  Little Bethany has been added into the homeschool mix with 3 year old preschool learning and fun.  It's a challenge keeping up with 4th grade, 1st grade, and preschool stuff, but it's all working out and for the best.  Kelly and Lyssa are doing A Beka Curriculum and Bethany is doing some preschool A Beka with a variety of other learning materials.

I am relieved we started now as we can slowly add in other activities and homeschool learning to our schedule.  Here's an example of our full schedule starting next week and beyond:

• Mondays: Homeschool, Chores, Piano Practice, FREE EVENING! Yay!
• Tuesdays: Homeschool at the Carr Ranch (my parents home in the country), chores, piano practice and Pioneer Girls.  (Christian Girl Scouts type program)
• Wednesdays:  Homeschool Connections classes in Farmington Hills: Kelly: History American Girl Class and IEWriting program and Lyssa: Fun with Spanish and P.E. and Piano Lessons at home!  Quick chores when we arrive home! We are doing the Homeschool Partnership with Oxford Virtual Academy and Homeschool Connections.
• Thursdays: Homeschool, chores, piano practice, and Kelly/Gymnastics!
• Fridays: Homeschool, chores, piano practice, and Lyssa and Bethany/Dance!  Once a month will be Fun Fridays for Homeschoolers at Ward Church so that should be fun too. =)

Of course I have to include my writing schedule and other duties into the mix, but it will all be worth it!

As you can see it will be a very active and busy schedule, but it also looks like it's going to be a lot of fun!  I love planning our own schedule.  This is a definite perk to the whole thing, haha!

Happy Tuesday!

Lindsey
Blessed to be a wife and mom

Our Homeschool Schedule for 2012-2013

I have finally gotten our schedule together for our new homeschool year.  It's going to be busy, busy but it's also going to be fun.  I am just praying for strength and endurance this time around as a little more has been added to the schedule vs our first year of homeschooling.  Here is what our homeschool schedule is looking like starting next week.

• Mondays:  Homeschool, piano practice, chores, my writing schedule
• Tuesdays: Homeschool, piano practice, chores, my writing schedule, Pioneer Girls in the evening
• Wednesdays: Homeschool Connections classes (4 of them: American Girl History, IEWriting program, Spanish and P.E.) Piano Lessons, chores, my writing schedule.
• Thursdays: Homeschool, piano practice, chores, writing schedule, gymnastics
• Fridays: Homeschool, piano practice, chores, writing schedule, dance

Thankfully, dance, gymnastics, and homeschool classes will slowly make their way in after next week so the week of the 27th, we will just be adjusting to our homeschool schedule.

Of course there is meal planning, etc. thrown into the mix.  The girls get up time will  be 7:00 am and mine will be 6:00 am for my early morning workout, otherwise I will not have time to fit that in there and this mama has got to stay healthy, haha.

If you homeschool, how is your schedule looking?  Of course as homeschoolers we know that no schedule is set in stone and there is always room for flexibility.  This took me some doing as I am a planner and a stickler for schedules.  Even following a schedule from time to time is great for everyone to get into a nice routine.  Kids thrive on routine.

Have a blessed rest of the week everyone and see you next week!

Lindsey
Blessed to be a wife and mom!